Lansing Community College vs College for Creative Studies: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lansing Community College comes closer — median earnings $39,206 against a $10,874 total, vs $44,860 at College for Creative Studies. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lansing Community College | College for Creative Studies |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,437 | $34,617 |
| Total net cost | $10,874 | $138,468 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,206 | $44,860 |
| Median debt | $12,700 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$193,954 | -$208,468 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lansing Community College or College for Creative Studies?
Lansing Community College, at $5,437 a year after aid versus $34,617 — a gap of $29,180 a year, or $127,594 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lansing Community College or College for Creative Studies graduates earn more?
College for Creative Studies graduates report a median $44,860 ten years after entry, $5,654 more than the $39,206 at Lansing Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Lansing Community College or College for Creative Studies?
Lansing Community College: its completers carry a median $12,700 in federal loans versus $26,000 at College for Creative Studies, a difference of $13,300. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at College for Creative Studies, against 25% at Lansing Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.